While the new digs are much nicer than the current location on South Avenue, it is the new responsibilities — adjudicating city traffic tickets — that will be most significant.

"No matter where you live. No matter your ZIP code, you deserve to be treated fairly in our justice system," Warren said, describing the matter as one of "fairness and equity."

Legislation establishing the agency noted that, "without the plea bargain option, city residents face higher fines, higher points and, consequently, higher insurance premiums than those faced by drivers living outside the city for the same infractions." The disparity was magnified by the fact that one-third of city residents live in poverty.

Policeman pulls over a driver for speeding, getting out of police car to write a traffic ticket.(Photo: kali9, Getty Images)

Until now, city tickets were handled by the Department of Motor vehicles, which was not allowed to offer plea deals. Motorists only option for getting a break was to come downtown, wait for their case to be called, and hope the ticketing officer didn't show so the case would be dismissed. If found guilty, an inability to pay in full could result in license suspension, even jail time, which could cost people their job.

"It becomes this vicious circle of owing civil penalties that result in criminal matters, and maybe even going to jail for unlicensed operation of a vehicle because they couldn’t pay that original fine," Palumbo said. "Not that we are saying people shouldn’t pay what they owe, but they couldn’t pay it in a payment plan."

For some idea of the impact:

►The city anticipates an annual volume of 35,000 traffic tickets, involving a potential 18,000 people. The volume of city tickets issued has been steadily declining since 2010, down 30 percent from 48,800 to 34,260 last year.

►Some 12,000 outstanding tickets are being transferred to the agency, which will reschedule hearing dates, making for a busy start to the expanded operations.

►Coupled with the federal Social Security Administration offices that are relocating to the building, Warren has estimated that 750 people could visit the building daily — further transforming East Main Street and the former McCrory's building that had sat vacant for nearly 20 years.

Warren credited City Court Judge Charles Crimi for raising the issue 10 years ago, and described the extended efforts to get the state Legislature to allow for local control.

The budget for the agency is $364,300 for the remainder of the 2017-18 fiscal year, which runs through June 30. Sherry Walker-Cowart, formerly the president and CEO of the Center for Dispute Settlement, is the agency's executive director, with Francis Affronti and La Marr Jackson serving as the presiding judges.

City Council previously approved a 20-year lease of the space, with optional renewals. The first-year lease payment is $195,000, and build out of the space was projected at $1.2 million.